Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Feb. 3 / Trend D. Azizov /
Uzbekistan hopes to attract a loan from the World Bank (WB) to the amount of $ 140 million to reconstruct Talimarjan TPP in the first half of 2011, a source in governmental circles said.
According to the source, at present, the negotiation process between the government and WB experts has been completed. The project can be submitted to the Board of Directors of the bank by late February.
The World Bank and the Uzbek government expanded their collaboration in the energy sector by signing a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of the proposed Talimarjan Transmission Project.
Uzbekistan intends to implement the modernization project worth $1.28 billion up to 2014.
It will be financed at the expense of loans attracted from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to the amount of $350 million, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) - $ 300 million, the Uzbek Reconstruction and Development Fund - $ 250 million and Uzbekenergo's own funds.
The World Bank financed part of the Project will cover construction of a 500/220 kV new substation at Talimarjan TPP; a 218 km 500 kV single circuit transmission line from Talimarjan TPP to Sogdiana substation; and a bay extension at Sogdiana substation. The existing Karakul Gujjar line, passing close by would also be interconnected to the new Talimarjan substation, by a short interconnection.
Uzbekistan joined the World Bank in 1992. The World Bank's mission in the country is to improve people's livelihoods through being a partner in economic reforms, supporting the modernization of the country's social sectors and infrastructure, and sharing its knowledge and experience with the government and the people of Uzbekistan.
Total World Bank commitments to Uzbekistan amount to about $ 860 million.